page_title: Bluebeard
hierarchical_section_title: Bluebeard
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Gravure sur bois de 33 x 27 cm de Barbe Bleue, publiée pour la première fois dans Les Contes de Perrault, dessins par Gustave Doré, Paris, Jules Hetzel, 1862, planche en regard de la p. 56. English: Woodcut 33 x 27 cm Barbe Bleue (Bluebeard), published for the first time in Les Contes de Perrault (Paris, Jules Hetzel, 1862) illustrated by Gustave Doré, board next to p. 56. Link to the page with the illustration in an online eBook edition of the original book.
context_page_description: "Bluebeard" is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It first appeared in a handwritten and illustrated manuscript in 1695 titled Contes de ma mère l'oye. The deluxe volume was intended for Mademoiselle, the 19-year-old niece of Louis XIV. It included four other tales by Perrault. "Bluebeard" was first published anonymously in January 1697 in Paris by Claude Barbin in Histoires ou contes du temps passé, a collection of eight fairy tales by Perrault. The tale is about a cruel man who murders his wives. He puts their corpses in a secret room opened only by a magic key.
  Jacque Barchilon believes the tale is original with Perrault because there are no close antecedants. The taboo of the forbidden room is found in eastern literature, and Barchilon writes that the tale has an "Oriental character". He points out that the French associated beards with Turkish fashions, and early illustrations depict Bluebeard wearing a turban-like headdress.
  Medieval murderer of children Gilles de Rais may have been the inspiration for the character of Bluebeard. De Rais was a Marshal of France and Joan of Arc's military companion. His victims were said to number 140.
context_section_description: "Bluebeard" (French: Barbe-bleue) is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It first appeared in a handwritten and illustrated manuscript in 1695 titled Contes de ma mère l'oye (English: Tales of Mother Goose). The deluxe volume was intended for Mademoiselle, the 19-year-old niece of Louis XIV. It included four other tales by Perrault. "Bluebeard" was first published anonymously in January 1697 in Paris by Claude Barbin in Histoires ou contes du temps passé (English: Stories or Tales of Past Times), a collection of eight fairy tales by Perrault. The tale is about a cruel man who murders his wives. He puts their corpses in a secret room opened only by a magic key.
  Jacque Barchilon believes the tale is original with Perrault because there are no close antecedants. The taboo of the forbidden room is found in eastern literature, and Barchilon writes that the tale has an "Oriental character". He points out that the French associated beards with Turkish fashions, and early illustrations depict Bluebeard wearing a turban-like headdress.
  Medieval murderer of children Gilles de Rais may have been the inspiration for the character of Bluebeard. De Rais was a Marshal of France and Joan of Arc's military companion. His victims (mostly young boys) were said to number 140. The Breton king Comorre the Cursed (c.500 AD) is another candidate. Tales similar to "Bluebeard" include "The Fitcher's Bird" by the Brothers Grimm and the English tale "Mr. Fox".
caption: Illustration by Gustave Doré, c.1862
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